Ceredigion to help rehearse the next census

Ceredigion to help rehearse the next census

CEREDIGION has been chosen to help ensure the overall success of the 2021 Census with a rehearsal taking place across the county later this year.

The rehearsal will enable the Office for National Statistics (ONS) to test some of the systems and processes it has put in place ahead of the digital-first 2021 Census.

The coastal county has been chosen as it has a high proportion of Welsh speakers, and includes a large rural area with varying internet coverage.

Tower Hamlets and Hackney in London and Carlisle in Cumbria will also be taking part.

People in each of the chosen areas will be asked to complete a questionnaire about those living in their household on 13 October 2019.

The rehearsal will be online, with help for those who need it. Residents will be invited to take part later this year.

Director of census operations, Pete Benton, said: “The census helps inform vital public services such as the number of children’s school places, hospital and GP services and social care provision in local areas.

“As the census only takes place every ten years it is important we hold an operational rehearsal to ensure that all our processes run smoothly.

“The people who take part will all be helping to ensure the overall success of the 2021 Census.”

The 2021 Census will, for the first time, collect information on veterans of the UK Armed Forces. This enables monitoring of the Armed Forces covenant – the deal between the country and those who served it.

And it is proposed that there will also be a new voluntary question on sexual orientation for those aged 16 and over. In addition to the usual question on being male or female, there will also be a voluntary question on gender identity for those aged 16 and over.

Ceredigion Facts from 2011 Census:

• There was a total of 75,922 residents living in 31,562 households.
• Among them were 12,559 households with no dependent children and 1,305 with three or more.
• There were also 16,487 single people, 26,716 were married and 407 were in a civil partnership or cohabiting with a partner of the same sex.
• A total of 35,404 residents said they could speak Welsh.
• There were 2,063 farmers and nearly as many artists (143) as publicans and managers of licensed premises (144).
• But just 11 people were keeping the county’s historic ship and boat building industry going.
• While another 16 people worked at quarries.
• Among the county’s least common jobs were tailors, pipe fitters and pest control officers.
• However, in some of the most popular jobs were 2,623 carers, 5,675 secretaries and 6,492 who had a skilled trade occupation.
• 30,032 residents either answered that they had no religion or did not specify.
• There were also 43,981 Christians, 521 Muslims and 355 Buddhists – making up the county’s most popular religions.
• 5,803 households said they did not have a car or van but 12,132 households had two or more – together, households owned a total of 42,905 cars or vans.
• The county’s population was made up of 71 ethnicities. Excluding ‘white British’, the two biggest groups were made up of 619 Polish and 479 Irish people.
• Meanwhile, 349 Jedi Knights were protecting the county from the ‘dark side’.

New Quay RNLI lifeboat crew trains with lifeguards

NEW QUAY lifeboat station hosted a special training evening with the lifeboat crew and Ceredigion’s RNLI lifeguards last week.

Pete Yates, one of New Quay RNLI’s inshore lifeboat helms, worked closely with Ceredigion lifeguard supervisor, Tirion Dowsett, to plan scenarios for the teams to practice working together in casualty care situations.

A large scale scenario included four casualties to be dealt with by the inshore lifeboat crew and two lifeguard teams on a nearby beach, whilst a third lifeguard team and lifeboat crew members dealt with a separate scenario at the lifeboat station.

Pete said: “It was a great evening of training. We had 9 lifeguards and 13 lifeboat crew in attendance.

“The main scenario included casualties suffering from hypothermia and propeller injuries. A second scenario involved a mechanic suffering head injuries in the forepeak of the all-weather lifeboat and requiring extraction on a stretcher.

“On completion of these scenarios we all gathered back at the station where one of our senior crew members sprung a great act at being a diabetic having a hypo, and being suitably angry and aggressive.”

Roger Couch, New Quay RNLI’s Lifeboat Operations Manager, added: “It was great for our lifeboat crew members to work with the lifeguards as it builds a deeper understanding of each other’s roles and encourages teamwork between us. This is of great benefit when dealing with real life casualty care situations.”

Coastguard rescues dog stuck on cliffs

LAST TUESDAY (Aug 27), New Quay RNLI’s inshore D-class lifeboat, Audrey LJ, was tasked by Milford Haven Coastguard to assist the Coastguard with a dog stuck on the cliffs near New Quay.

The volunteer crew launched the inshore lifeboat at 1.50pm with four crew members on board and made their way south down the coast.

Brett Stones, New Quay RNLI’s helm said: “We located the dog on the cliffs by Castell Bach, near Cwmtydu. We stood by while the Coastguard team caught the animal. The dog was unharmed and safe with the Coastguard so we were stood down.

“However, while returning to station we were then tasked to a small vessel with engine failure. We towed the stricken boat with three people on board back to New Quay. We rehoused the inshore lifeboat and it was ready for service by 2.40pm.”

New maintenance Lorries cut carbon emissions

The Ground Maintenance Team has purchased three new lorries to support ground maintenance services in Ceredigion.

The new lorries will move Ceredigion County Council’s Ground Maintenance Service’s equipment to and from the grounds that they look after. The lorries will also take cut grass away for composting. This provides the most efficient way of maintaining the areas that the team is responsible for.

Councillor Dafydd Edwards is the Cabinet member responsible for Highways and Environmental Services together with Housing. He said: “The new vehicles replace ones which had provided excellent service for almost 20 years. They are fitted with Euro 6 engines which are considerably more efficient and better for the environment.”

The Grounds Maintenance Team is also incrementally introducing electric-powered mowers, blowers, hedge cutters and strimmers into its fleet. This equipment is better for the environment, is easier to use and causes less noise and vibration.

The new lorries support Ceredigion County Council’s commitment to be a net-zero carbon council by 2030.